The Galloway Glens Scheme is supporting a project which is aiming to halt the perilous decline in our local population of Black Grouse. As part of this project, the ‘Lets Grouse’ event is being held on 01 December to raise the profile of what is now one of our most threatened species.
Event: 01 Dec, 7.30pm, Attend online or in person
The ‘Black Grouse Habitat Creation’ project is led by RSPB Dumfries & Galloway, supported by the Galloway Glens Scheme and Forestry & Land Scotland. The project team, supported by a band of volunteers, has drafted five management plans covering areas of Galloway Forest Park that host some of the most fragile populations of Black Grouse in the United Kingdom.
The event on 01 December includes three speakers, each with their own angle of interest in how we should value and protect one of the Galloway & Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere’s priority species.
The first speaker is RSPB’s Ed Tooth, talking about the work that is being done to support Black Grouse in Galloway. Next up is Chris Rollie, a burns and bird expert. Recently retired from RSPB, Chris now devotes much of his time to exploring more of the Bard’s works and will discuss how our landscape and species within them inspired the Rabbie Burns.
The third speaker is Climate specialist, David Douglas. David will talk about how the changing climate will impact the upland fringe, what this could mean for Black Grouse and how we might build resilience to change.
The event can either be attended in person, in the Balmaclellan Smiddy, or online. Book your free ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lets-grouse-tickets-176604206937.
Ed Tooth, from RSPB and a speaker on the night, said:
“I’m really looking forward to discussing all things Black Grouse next week, and raising the awareness of such a magnificent and iconic bird. As a top conservation priority for southern Scotland, we need to be doing everything we can to get the message out there that Black Grouse are in desperate need of our help, and to highlight some of the things we can do to help improve their fortunes going forward.”
The event is the fifth in the Galloway Glens Autumn/Winter programme of events, led by Nick Chisholm. Ahead of the event, Nick said:
“Black grouse are a very common bird in wildlife documentaries, countless films have been made of the dancing black and white males vying for attention from the ‘girls’. Unfortunately, in this part of the world, archive film footage is often all that left! What’s to be done? Lets Grouse about this on the 1st of December!”
